Senegal produced a surprise performance to book their first trip to the
World Cup finals, emerging not only from the ranks of the unfancied but
through arguably the toughest of the African qualifying groups.

The Lions of west Africa edged out four-time World Cup finalists Morocco
on goal difference to win their qualifying group and also finished ahead
of two other countries who had qualified for the World Cup finals before
- Algeria and Egypt.

Senegal has been one of the more politically stable countries in Africa
and the source of a large quota of European-based players over the last
decades, some of them like Patrick Vieira and Ibrahim Ba eventually playing
for France.

But despite the platform for success, Senegal have always been among
Africa's under-achievers, with their previous best performance on the
international stage being a semifinal place at the 1990 African Nations
Cup finals.

An example of the lack of expectation of the national side was demonstrated
in February 2000 when a crowd estimated around 20,000 turned out at Dakar's
airport to welcome the national side home - after they had taken Nigeria
into extra time but had eventually been eliminated in the quarter-finals
of the Nations Cup.

Much of that has changed with the dramatic rise in fortunes as Senegal
lost just a single game out of eight in the qualifying campaign.

Draws away in Algeria and Morocco proved crucial as their self-confidence
grew with each passing match.

Eight goals from El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf, the French-based striker,
proved pivotal and were valuable contributions from other players based
in France like Khalilou Fadiga, Henri Camara and Lamine Diatta.

Senegal can effectively field a side made up exclusively of players from
the French league.

Diouf, who had earned himself a reputation for his temper and off-field
indiscipline in France, resurrected his club career with his performances
for the national team.

The side were coached by Frenchman Bruno Metsu, who built on the platform
left him by the veteran German Peter Schnittger, a journeyman coach who
has worked on the African continent since the late 1960s.

Schnittger's contract was not renewed in September 2000.

Since qualifying, Senegal have proved their results were no fluke with
wins over both World Cup hosts as they prepare for the finals.

They beat Japan in France in October and won away in South Korea in November,
before posting their most notable achievement to date, reaching this year's
Nations Cup final in Mali wher they were beaten only on penalties by Cameroon.

Metsu is already promising Senegal will bring a new charisma to the World
Cup finals in Asia, describing his team as "the new Jamaica"
in reference to the enthusiasm attracted by the "Reggae Boyz"
in France in 1998.